The message is getting through

In the fifth week of their anti-drink drive campaign the police say their message appears to be getting through to motorists.

Three people were arrested in East Dunbartonshire for drink driving during the first week of the police crackdown (beginning December 8) but there were no further arrests before Christmas.

However one man was arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol - the police were unable to confirm which - on December 27 in Strathblane Road, Milngavie.

The police have been carrying out special patrols in the area to catch ‘morning after’ drivers as tough new laws came into force. They also carried out spot checks throughout the festive period.

Until recently the limit was 80mg of alcohol in every 100ml of blood - that has now dropped to just 50mg, meaning a single glass of wine or pint of beer could put you over the limit to drive.

An average of 20 people die on Scotland’s roads every year in accidents involving drivers over the legal limit.

Inspector Iain Greene, deputy area commander for East Dunbartonshire, said: “Unfortunately ten people died as a result of drink driving and 100 were seriously injured on the roads in Scotland in the last 12 months.

“I have seen at first hand the results and devastating consequences that drink driving has in our communities and on the families and friends of both the driver and victims involved.

“The residents of Milngavie and Bearsden, through our community consultation survey, identified road safety as a key local policing priority and I aim to deliver on this.

“My commitment to keep people safe on the roads in East Dunbartonshire is based on a preventative approach making use of visible patrolling and unmarked vehicles to influence driver behaviour.”